A pilot scheme operated in Markinch last autumn has proved to be so effective that it is to be rolled out across the Kingdom – saving the local authority around £1.6 million in landfill tax and penalties.

The environment, enterprise and transportation committee heard at its meeting last Thursday that the Markinch trial had been 'phenomenally successful', with 90 per cent of residents declaring that they were satisfied or very satisfied with it.

Under the scheme, green bins were provided to recycle plastics and cans, while grey bins were for paper and cardboard and brown bins for both garden and food waste. Rubbish that could not be recycled went into a blue bin destined for landfill.

As a result, villagers in Markinch achieved a recycling rate of 71 per cent - a figure that the committee's vice-chair, Councillor Ross Vettraino, described as 'amazing.'

Trials were also carried out in other areas of Fife, including Guardbridge and Leuchars, which involved different combinations of bins and containers, and people's recycling habits were closely monitored to assess which option was most effective and user friendly.

Read more in this week's Fife Herald.